In some respects, it appears Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan didn't progress much in his fourth season. But if you look beyond his playoff loss, you'll see a developing quarterback that improved key parts of his game.

The Falcons created many more big plays in 2011, and Ryan's yards-per-attempt went up dramatically. Ryan also showed improved command of the offense when running the no-huddle attack. Look for that trend to continue despite the change in offensive coordinator to Dirk Koetter.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com wrote Friday that the Falcons want to use more no-huddle and dictate tempo. It's where Ryan shines.

Ryan still could be more consistent with his accuracy. He's not a quarterback like Tom Brady that moves well inside the pocket to avoid the pass rush. There are areas in which he still needs to improve, but the Falcons will be well served if they let him take control of the offense even more in 2012.